The stock market is going down. The price for gas and groceries is going up. There is a long wait to see a physician. Many products are simply not available with no estimate for when they might be in stock. People are not motivated to work while employers are desperate for help, and there is a general lack of vision for the future. When I was growing up during the cold war, I had a fear of these things. These were the conditions behind the iron curtain where the people, oppressed by a communist regime, were victimized by their Soviet government. Socialist countries had similar symptoms as well, although their circumstances were usually not as dire. In the United States, we were taught to believe that our freedom from oppression, democratic system, enterprising spirit and vision for the future fueled the American dream. We believed that our form of government was God-given and we were keen to believe that this country was unlike any other in giving us an opportunity to thrive. Yet, sadly, these symptoms of socialism have fallen upon our own nation today.

The truth is that the tenets of socialism have been creeping into our thinking for years. Many from the younger generation did not live through a time when this political system had its horns locked with democracy in a battle for supremacy. There is a general acceptance (if not reverence) for the socialist agenda today, as if it were a positive role model for our own political thinking. For the Christian, we must ask ourselves if God has ordained a particular political system. You certainly won’t find the U.S. Constitution in your Bible (although you will probably find the Star-Spangled Banner in your hymnal), but we do know that our founders formed our country’s operating principles on God’s Word. In fact, our country is actually a republic and not a democracy. As Benjamin Franklin exited Independence Hall after the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a lady asked him “Doctor, what have we got?”, to which Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Even the founders knew that this system must operate under certain assumptions in order to maintain a government that continued to honor the principles of God’s Word and to maintain a future hope of peace and prosperity.

The first requirement for “keeping the republic” is the need for solid, godly, integrity-filled leadership. Another one of Franklin’s quotes was published shortly after the election of George Washington as our first president. He stated, “The first man put at the helm will be a good one. Nobody knows what sort may come afterwards.” To maintain the republic, we need godly Christian men in leadership at all levels in this country. Proverbs 16:12 says, “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.” God’s blessing comes through a republic only to the extent that we have those ruling us who are established in righteousness. The sad thing is that many Christians are not rising to these positions of power and we are often at the mercy of those who don’t love the Lord.

The second requirement for “keeping the republic” is the need for its citizens to maintain personal responsibility and not to become reliant on government programs. When asked why we might not be able to keep a republic, Franklin replied, “Because the people, on tasting the dish, are always disposed to eat more of it than does them good.” We live in an age where there is an expectation that the government will provide for our needs. From social security to socialized healthcare to all kinds of programs that pay us cash, we have come to believe that we can (and should) rely on the government. It has become a “right”. Churches have become largely irrelevant in the relief of the poor because government programs have largely met people’s needs. It is more advantageous for some people to stay home and collect benefits than to go out and work hard for a living. Yet, the Bible gives us a stern warning about this type of work ethic: “If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).

Yes, this might only be a phase that we are going through in our country. We might go through a recession and come out better on the other end. However, we should recognize these symptoms of socialism that we are facing today and vow to make the changes necessary in order to “keep the republic”. Until Christ comes and sets up the perfect government (a theocracy), this is the best that we have. But it only works when we have leadership that is committed to godly integrity and citizens that maintain hope in the future and take personal responsibility to provide for themselves.